“It is the policy of this state that all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection and copying by any person.” (e.s.) Section 119.01(1), F.S. In addition, s. 119.07(1)(a), F.S., provides that “[e]very person who has custody of a public record shall permit the record to be inspected and copied by any person desiring to do so....” Finally, s. 119.07(4), F.S., requires the custodian to “furnish a copy or a certified copy of the record upon payment of the fee prescribed by law....” And see Fuller v. State ex rel. O’Donnell, 17 So. 2d 607 (Fla. 1944) (“The best-reasoned authority in this country holds that the right to inspect public records carries with it the right to make copies”); and Schwartzman v. Merritt Island Volunteer Fire Department, 352 So. 2d 1230, 1232n.2 (Fla. 4th DCA 1977) (Public Records Act requires custodian to furnish copies). Cf. Wootton v. Cook, 590 So. 2d 1039, 1040 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991) (if the requestor identifies a record with sufficient specificity to permit the agency to identify it and forwards the appropriate fee, the agency must furnish by mail a copy of the record). (Florida Office of the Attorney General // © March 9, 2023)
